Gerechtigkeitsgasse, alley in the old town of Bern, Switzerland
The Gerechtigkeitsgasse is a narrow alley in Bern's old city that winds roughly 280 meters through stone buildings dating from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. The street is lined with characteristic covered walkways called Lauben, and three historical fountains punctuate its length, including the prominent Justice Fountain at the center.
The street developed as a key trading route and busy marketplace before commerce shifted to other parts of town. It gained importance when nobles and wealthy families built their homes here, and in the eighteenth century, many facades were rebuilt in the late Baroque style while preserving the street's overall character and layout.
The street takes its name from the Justice Fountain at its center, which depicts the goddess of justice and dates to the mid-sixteenth century. Locals and visitors use the covered walkways today as natural gathering spaces, strolling between shops, restaurants, and outdoor seating areas where they watch daily life pass by.
The alley is easily walkable and several bus stops are nearby for convenient access to other parts of the city. Plan to stroll slowly through the covered walkways to explore the shops and cafes, and allow time to rest at one of the outdoor seating areas along the way.
Albert Einstein lived in a house on the street between 1903 and 1905 and worked on scientific ideas before gaining world recognition. Visitors can today explore a small museum in that house that recalls this period and his connection to the city.
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